Lorry driver jailed after causing fatal crash while looking at pornography on his phone

An HGV driver has been jailed for a fatal crash on the M58, after prosecutors proved he had been distracted by looking at pornography on his phone moments before the collision.

Neil Platt, 43, has been jailed for 10 years today at Preston Crown Court for causing the death of Daniel Aitchison, after he drove into the back of his car on the M58 last year.

Platt was also disqualified from driving for 13 years and eight months, and ordered to take an extended retest before getting back behind the wheel.

Darren Smith, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said:

“The untimely death of Daniel Aitchison has caused unimaginable pain for his family and loved ones.

“Had Neil Platt not been using his mobile phone while driving a large lorry, he would have been able to stop his vehicle in response to the traffic ahead of him, which would have prevented the death of Daniel Aitchison.

“The evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service proved Platt was on his phone while driving the lorry and meant that Platt had little option but to admit his guilt.”

The crash took place on the M58 motorway on 17 May 2024, near Skelmersdale.

Because he was distracted by his mobile phone, Platt failed to react to the traffic slowing ahead and collided with a Hyundai car being driven by Daniel Aitchison.

Mr Aitchison’s car was shunted into a second large lorry ahead of him and this caused the fuel tank on the car to rupture, and the Hyundai was engulfed in flames.

Sadly, Mr Aitchison could not be saved. Neil Platt pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.